Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Traditional methods to repair cartilage damage are prone to induce degeneration. Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) has good biocompatibility, its degradation rate can be adjusted according to the requirements, has a potential application prospect in the repair of cartilage damage.
OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of repairing articular cartilage defect in rabbits using PLGA as a carrier.
METHODS: Two-month-old New Zealand white rabbits were selected, and the marrow stromal cells were induced into chondroncytes. The third passage of cells and the PLGA were co-cultured for 24 hours, then PLGA-cell composites were prepared ready. Defects were made in femoral condyles of rabbit patellofemoral joint, and the right 36 knees were treated with PLGA-cell composites, the left 18 knees was implanted with PLGA only, the other 18 knees were left untreated as control group. At 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48 weeks after operation, the animals were killed and the newly formed tissues were observed grossly and graded histologically.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After the defects in rabbits were repaired using PLGA-cell composite, the chondrocytes distributed uniformly, the color and the luster of the defects were similar to that of the normal cartilage, and was ill-demarcated from the surrounding normal cartilage. The cells on the surface paralleled to joint surface, and the cells in the deep layer arranged disorderly. The cells clustered together, the matrix was extensively metachromatic. The subchondral bone formed, the tide mark basically recovered, and the new cartilage integrated with normal cartilage finely. As for only PLGA group and untreated group, chondrocytes proliferated in the border, but on the bottom, there were mainly fibrous tissues. Chondroncytes derived from marrow stromal cell are ideal seed cells for repairing articular cartilage defect. PLGA can be used as a suitable matrix material for the repair of cartilage defect and may have a good prospect for clinical use.